Hen&#39;s nest



March 1, 1932. a. H. WOODS 1,847,740

HEN S NEST Filed May 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 1, 1932. B. H. WOODS 1,847,740

HENS NEST Filed May 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ziegbmk/Moods Patented Mar. 1, 1932 PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN H. WOODS, OF GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA HEN S NEST 7 Application filed May 2 1,

The object of the invention is to provide a hens nest which may consist of any desired number of separable units each embodying a variable number of boxes or compartments adapted for use as nesting spaces for fowl,

which may be constructed in knock down form'for assemblage and disassemblage to facilitate thoroughcleansing and ster1liza tion as well as simplify shipment and storage, 1: and which when set up or assembled may have a practical stability adapted to withstand the strains incident to the joint accommodationof a plurality of fowls, and with .1 \this general idea in view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts of which the preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein" c Figure 1 is a perspective View of 'a series of tiers of hens nests embodying'the invention ' F1gure'2 1s a vertical transversely sectional view taken Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one I l 'end of he frame upon which the nest units are assembled;

Figure l is a similar view of one end of an intermediate nest; and

Figure 5 is a similar view of one end of the 1'" upper or topmost nest unit.

The device embodiesjessentially a frame comprising the horizontally dlsposed base or floor and back 11, on which the former -may be supported in spaced relation with the hen house floor or like object by means of thedepending legs or feet 12 and one or more nest units comprising in the construction lllustrated the intermediate nest units 13 and 1 1 and the top nest unit 15, corresponding es sentially in constructionv and adapted to be arranged in tiered or successively superposed relation with the lower or intermediate nest resting upon and supported by the base or floor of the frame. Each of these units embodies one or more nest boxes, a plurallty of which are illustrated in the device shown in the drawings, so that each nest unit consists of a plurality of series of nest boxes removable from and applicable to the frame as a unit, and each unit having nest box side 1930. Serial No. 454,467.

unit is placed upon the frame the bottom of the nest boxes comprising said unit are formed by the base or floor of the frame, while the rear wall of the nest boxes comprising saidunit are formed by the rear wall 11 of said frame. The same is true of the superposed units to any number which may be desired by the builder or required by the number of fowls to be accommodated, with the exception that the uppermost unit of whichthe nest box side walls'are shown at 15a has a top wall 156 which is pitched or inclined to prevent'its use as a roost, as illustratedin the drawings. Asupplemental cover and unit locking means 150 is hinged and detachably mounted by means of hinges 16 upon the upper edge of the rear wall 11 of the frame, to overlie the top wall of the uppermost unit and is preferably disposed at an inclination downwardly and forwardly to constitute a water shed. This cover is secured at its front edge by latches 15d and serve to lock the elements of the structure in their operative relations. 7

At the front of each of the units with the exception of'the lowermost (which rest directly on the frame) there is arranged a platform or perch for use by the fowls in entering and leaving the nest boxes, and at thebottom of the lowermost unit or tier of boxes there is also a platform for use in connection with that tier, the platform for the lowermost unit which is indicated at 17, consisting of a forward extension of the floor or bottom of the frame, while the platforms or perches 18 of the superposed units are formed by forward extensions of the top walls of the intermediate units suitably braced by brackets 19 formed by the forward continuation" of the side walls of the nest'boxes. Moreover, as a means of preventing displacementor disarrangement ofthe units of the assembled structure an interlocking engagement is established between the units as by forming at the front edges thereof depend ing webs for engagement with the seats 2* f p r 1,847,740

21 formed in the floor or bottom of the frame by a spaced relation'between the floor or bottom proper and the extension 17, and on the units by a similar separation between the upper wall of the unit and the extension which constitutes the platform or perch. When the parts are assembled, therefore, the parts 20 drop into the seats 21' and hold the rear edges of the side walls of the nest boxes in contact with the front surface of the rear Wall 11 of the frame while permitting the ready displacement or disassembling of the elements to give free access to the interiors of the nest boxes for the purpose of cleaning,

sterilizing, and disinfecting.

In practice, it is desirable to employ means for holding a suitable amount of straw or bedding in each unit box for the convenience and comfort of the fowl and to this end a straw guard consisting of a "strip 23 is ar ranged transversely in spanning relation with the front of each nest been itsbottom and in practice the strip which forms this straw guard in relation to each unit may be extended downwardly as shown in the drawing-s, below the lower edges of the nest boxes to constitute the rib 20 forming av portion of the interlockin means by which the units are ield in their proper positions.

hat is claimed is: Y

I l. A knockdown hens nest having a frame comprising a floor and a back, and nest units each having end walls, a top wall and intermediate walls dividing the units into nest compartments, each of said compartments being open at the front and rear and at the bottom, said units being arranged in superimposed tiered and interlocked relation to each other upon said frame.

2. A knockdown hens nest having a frame comprising a floor and a back, and nest units each having end walls, a top wall and intermediate walls dividing the unit into nest compartments, said units being arranged in superimposed tieredrelation upon said floor,

said compartments being open at the front and rear and at the bottom thereof, the top walls of theintermediate units forming floors for the units thereabove and being extended beyondthe plane of the front of the units to form platforms or perches.

3. A knockdown-hens nest having a frame comprising a floor and a back, and nest units each having end walls, a top wall, and intermediate walls dividing the unit into nest compartments, said compartments being open at the front and rear and at the bottom thereof and arranged in superimposed tiered relation upon said floor and in position to have their rear openings closed by said back, and a cover hinged to said back and overlying the uppermost unit. q

4. A knockdown hens nest having a frame comprising a floor andan upright back, and

a plurality of nest unitis each having end walls, a top, and intermediate walls dividing the unit into nest compartments, a guard wall connecting the lower portions of the end and intermediate walls whereby to partially close the front openings of the compartments, said compartments being open at the rear and at the bottom thereof, said units being arranged in superimposed and interlocked relation upon said floor and having their rear openings closed by said back, and means movably mounted on said back and en gaging with the uppermost of said units for holding said units in place.

5. A knockdown hens nest having a frame comprising a floor and a vertical back mounted thereon, nest units each having end walls, a top wall, and intermediate walls dividin the units into compartments, a straw guar wall extending longitudinally of a unit and connected to the lower portions of the front edges of said end and intermediate walls, said guard wall havingits lower edge extending below the last-named walls, said units having front and rear openings and a bot-- tom opening and being arranged in superimposed relation to each other upon said floor, the top walls of the intermediate units forming the floors of-the'units 'thereabove and extending outwardly beyond the fronts of the units to form platforms, each of said platforms having a longitudinal groove receiving the lower edge of a guard wall, said back closing said rear openings, and means on said back engaging the uppermost of the units for holding the units on said frame.

6. A knockdown hens nest having a supporting frame including a floor and a vertical back mounted thereon, nest units each comprising end walls, a top wall, and intermediate walls dividing the unit into nest compartments, each of said compartments having a front opening, a rear opening, and a bottom opening, a straw guard wall extending longitudinally of the unit and closing the lower portions of said front openings, said guard wall extending below said end and intermediate walls, the top wall of each of the intermediate units extending outwardly beyond the front of the units to form a platform, said platform being separated from the remainder thereof by a groove, said groove receiving the lower portion of said guard wall of the unit above, and a hinged member carried by said back and resting on the uppermost of the units for holding the latter in place on said frame.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

BENJAMIN H. WVOODS'. 

